Search form

Ocean Management

by Dleneveu on April 27, 2018 - 6:51pm

In the article "Fishing problems: poor fisheries management," it explains the problems that are going on in oceans and fisheries and what their main causes and affects are. Oceans are also threatened by marine plastic pollution and each year, an estimated 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans, with microplastics becoming part of the food chain. Scientists estimate that without urgent action, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. While complex, the issue of ocean plastic waste is a solvable challenge. Five countries are responsible for more than 50 percent of total plastic waste in the oceans (China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand). We also know that an estimated 80 percent of ocean plastic pollution originates from inadequate land-based solid waste management. While ocean resources have the potential to boost growth and wealth, human activity has taken a toll on ocean health. Fish stocks have deteriorated due to overfishing — the share of fish stocks outside biologically sustainable levels rose from 10 percent in 1974 to 32 percent in 2013, while in the same year approximately 57 percent of fish stocks were fully exploited. Fish stocks are affected by illicit fishing, which may account for up to 26 million tons of fish catches a year or more than 15 percent of total catches. In fact, poor fisheries management squanders roughly US$80 billion annually in lost economic potential and 11 percent in catch potential. Fish habitats are also under pressure from pollution, coastal development, and destructive fishing practices that undermine fish population rehabilitation efforts. The World Bank and many of our partners have adopted what we call the Blue Economy approach to oceans and waterways. This approach supports economic growth, social inclusion and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring the environmental sustainability of oceans and coastal areas.

In my opinion, I would have to agree with the article and in which the only way that we can avoid these problems is by enforcing laws and have it cotrolled by the government. Therefore these problems can be solved in a reasonale matter. This would make long-term benefits of marine resources and remain our oceans healthy.

Comments

I chose to comment on your summary because i have seen alot of videos online about the plastic pollution massively affecting marine life, I also feel somewhat responsible as someone who used to live in one of the five countries that create at least 50% of the plastic pollution in the ocean. I agree that this is a problem that must be tackled immediately before the marine life are forced to adapt to a deterioration environment. According to the study "Global research priorities to mitigate plastic pollution impacts on marine life" by A.C Vector et al. "plastic pollution now impacts all marine and coastal habitats... [and its] impact on the physical condition of habitats has received little attention". According to the study, in more extreme cases, plastic pollution has been seen to alter the physico-chemical processes such as light and oxygen availability along with temperature and water movement, which leads to alteration in micro and meiobenthic communities and interruption of foraging pattern of key species.
The consequences of plastic waste is not only limited to 'how we get rid of it inland' but also its effects on both land and marine life if not disposed of properly. I believe this is a problem that must be tackled immediately because with the plastic pollution messing up the marine habitat and with the fisheries over exploiting the fishes, i don't think they would last another couple of centuries.

I chose to comment on this summary since I find this issue affects me on a more personal level. Growing up, I used to live in Israel and the beach was 15 min away from our house. We used to take walk by the ocean every other day. And once in the ocean there is the biggest verity of fishes. I loved it! However, knowing that today, each year, there is around “8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans” is horrifying. Considering it involves not only the fish we are consuming but also the rest of the ocean. We must make sure to lower the percentage of plastic in the ocean by at least 20%.